Prevailing Prayer: 8: The Throne of Grace
By T.M. Anderson
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace for help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
It has been stated previously that the approach to the throne of grace is through Jesus, our High Priest. I have also said that it is important to form a mental picture of the Savior seated on His mediatorial throne, which is the throne of grace. If one does not have a Scriptural concept of the mediatorial throne, he will find it difficult to pray because his mind will have no certain resting place. Wandering thoughts are due to a lack of concentration.
If we come "boldly" to the throne of grace, we must base our confidence upon the infallible Word of God, believing that we shall obtain mercy, and find grace for help in the time of need. We can approach the throne of grace with courage and confidence, having no doubts and fears about being heard. The Savior will not deny His faithful people; He will answer their prayers, and give them the desires of their hearts.
We base our faith and courage upon the fact, that we have an High Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because He has been tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. The Savior is not unmindful of our infirmities of body and mind. He is sympathetic and understanding; He knows the meaning of our tears, and He knows the troubles which beset us in this world. Our prayers for mercy and help can touch Him, for He has been tempted in every point as we are tempted. He can sustain us in every trial, and enable us to win in every conflict; He has suffered for us in the flesh.
When we come to the throne of grace, we are not required to make an apology for our infirmities of body and mind; we do not need to explain our limitations. The Savior knows us, and is waiting to hear our prayers.
We should not overlook the fact that obtaining mercy is first in the order of praying at the throne of grace, for it is the Mercyseat. We have no meritorious claims of our own; we have nothing to commend us to God. Our only hope is in obtaining mercy, and not be rejected in a time of need. The consoling words of the Psalm encourage us to pray: "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." (Psalm 86:5)
When we have come humbly to the Mercyseat, and obtained mercy in the Name of Jesus, we shall find grace for help in time of need. In the clear light of this truth, let us come unashamed and unafraid, and make our requests known unto God.
The Lord has enabled me to pray the prayer of faith a few times in my life; but I have discovered more about the power of prayer since making the covenant of prayer with the Savior, than I knew in the forty years of my ministry. I have learned how to take people into the Presence of the Savior, and talk with Him about their needs. I witness to the power of prevailing prayer, that my Heavenly Father may be glorified in His Son.
I entered a small cafe late one evening after a service at the church. The manager told me that his wife was seriously ill in a hospital; he said she had been unable to speak for several days. Immediately my heart was burdened for the sick woman. I told the husband that I would pray for his wife, for which he was very grateful. About four o'clock in the morning, I took this unknown woman on my prayer, and held her up before the Savior.
He gave the assurance that He had heard my prayer, and would help her. I returned two days later, and entered the little cafe. When the manager saw me, he cried out, "Mother is up, mother is up, and talking, and walking about the room." His daughter said to me, "Mister, what did you do to my mother?"
I told her that I held her mother up before the Lord in prayer. She began to weep, and said, "Mister, hold me up to God in prayer, I am such a wicked girl." This sick woman was ninety miles from the place where I prayed, but the distance did not prevent the answer to prayer.
I was praying in the quiet hours of the morning in February, 1950; when I formed the mental picture of the Savior on His mediatorial throne, and presented my request, I was enabled to see certain facts about the person for whom I was praying. By a power never before known to me, I was enabled to see into the past lives of persons, and remind them of certain incidents in their past that affected them in their spiritual lives. I certainly did not seek gift of spiritual discernment, if this was such a gift. But in more than a hundred incidents I have not been mistaken at any time.
